A man jailed for his involvement in the death of PSNI Constable Philippa Reynolds, has been fined £500 for possession of drugs while on licence from jail.

Conor Clarence, 25, from Ballykelly, appeared at the Magistrate's Court in Derry charged with drugs offences.

He admitted possessing amphetamines and ecstasy in Limavady on Wednesday of this week and claimed he intended to use them to relieve pain from a skin condition.

Clarence had been out on licence from Maghaberry Jail since November after serving half of a 21-month sentence for stealing a 4x4 car two years ago, and allowing himself to be carried as a passenger in the stolen vehicle.

The car was driven at speeds of up to 80mph along Clooney Terrace in the Waterside area of Derry before it collided with an unmarked police car at Dale's Corner in the early hours of February 9, 2013.

Constable Reynolds, 27, a former pupil at Antrim Grammar School, was a back-seat passenger in the police car which was hit. The impact killed her instantly.

PSNI Constable Philippa Reynolds was killed in the fatal collision in Derry

Clarence was jailed for 21 months and ordered to serve an other 21 months on licence.

The court heard he had suffered from depression while in jail following the death of the police woman, whose death, his solicitor said, weighed deeply on him.

He was released from prison on licence last November and was six months into his licence period when he was picked up by police officers who discovered drugs on him.

Clarence confessed to possession of the illegal drugs, placing himself in breach of his licence conditions.

A police officer told District Judge Peter King that at 5.30pm on Wednesday, members of a police mobile patrol saw Clarence staggering along Benevenagh Drive in Limavady.

The officers stopped to speak to him and they noted that he appeared highly intoxicated, that his speech was slurred and that his eyes were glazed.

Clarence was placed into the police car where officers witnessed him putting a plastic bag into his mouth. The officers managed to retrieve the bag and found that it contained white powder and several ecstasy tablets. They found more tablets inside his trousers pocket.

Clarence denied that he intended to supply the drugs and told the police they were for his personal use.

Defence solicitor David Brewster said Clarence was on licence on other very serious matters.

He said Clarence bought the drugs for £60 shortly before his arrest.

Mr Bewster said: "He suffers from a very serious skin complaint. He asked his general practitioner to prescribe something to relieve the pain. He was scratching himself until he bled. He was not given a prescription by his general practitioner and he bought the drugs to relieve the pain.

"Since his release from prison on licence last November, he has endeavoured to rebuild his life.

"He suffered from depression while in jail following the death of Constable Reynolds whose death weighed deeply on him and for which he was extremely remorseful."

Former teacher Philippa in happy times

The District Judge said Clarence was entitled to full credit for admitting the offences at an early stage.

He fined Clarence, who has 51 previous criminal convictions including three drugs-related offences, £500 and ordered the destruction of the drugs found on him.

The Court was told that Clarence's breach of his licence conditions will now be referred to the justice department by the PSNI.